This study investigates the social impacts of tourism events on communities living in the vicinity of the event venues. It investigates perceptions of host communities on impacts of the events. The findings revealed that tourism events have both positive and negative impacts on host communities. The study uses the qualitative research approach which provides an opportunity to capture the richness and complexity of their experiences, which may not be captured by quantitative research methods. The study therefore, concluded that it is necessary to take necessary precautions when hosting events, especially in rural communities. The study concludes that the event should continue to be hosted because it helps the community to be able to generate income and creates employment for the local people as well as good business opportunities for local businesses. Show less

This study investigates the social impacts of tourism events on communities living in the vicinity of the event venues. It investigates perceptions of host communities on impacts of the events. The findings revealed that tourism events have both positive and negative impacts on host communities. The study uses the qualitative Show more

Accommodation grading systems officially exist in many countries and globally, including South Africa, there are official star grading systems to classify tourism accommodation based on physical and qualitative criteria. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) plays a critical role in providing standardised ratings for accommodation establishments. However, in recent years, the tourism landscape has evolved significantly, driven by changing consumer preferences, emerging trends, and advancements in technology. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the grading system remains relevant and effectively serves the needs of both domestic and international tourists. This study examines perceptions of the influence and effectiveness of the tourism accommodation grading system in South Africa to provide insights into the relevance of the grading system and recommendations. A multi-conceptual theoretical framework is used, integrating institutional, quality management, diffusion and stakeholder theories. A mixed methods research design was adopted that includes desktop, quantitative (507 online and face-to-face interviews with consumers who used, were using or planned to use an accommodation establishment) and qualitative (30 purposively selected key informant interviews targeting 10 organisations, 10 graded establishments and 10 non-graded establishments) components. The results indicate support for accommodation grading (emphasis was placed on independence and credibility) and reviews/ ratings more generally. There was also some support that graded establishments are higher priced and higher levels of service quality and provision of amenities/ product offerings are expected. Most respondents did not regard the grading system as being very effective. The criteria used for grading are in alignment with factors deemed to be important by the respondents and key informants, with sustainability and transformational imperatives perceived to require greater attention. Issues were raised in relation to whether the criteria focused on ‘ticking boxes’ (the presence of attributes) rather than quality. Recognising the increased prominence of social media and ratings/ reviews, as well as diversity among accommodation establishments and considering niche/ non-conventional accommodation establishments in terms of type (such as Airbnbs) and location (specifically in townships and rural areas), were underscored. The need to consider multiple systems (including independent grading and reviews/ rating) that are complementary and institutionalising a monitoring and evaluation framework are key recommendations. Show less

Accommodation grading systems officially exist in many countries and globally, including South Africa, there are official star grading systems to classify tourism accommodation based on physical and qualitative criteria. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) plays a critical role in providing standardised ratings Show more

Tourist guiding is an important subsector of the tourism sector. In South Africa, tourism forms an important contributor to the economy and accounts for a large portion of employment. Tourist guiding has been seen as a mechanism for upliftment due to the relative ease of entering the sector. Despite this, transformation within the subsector has been relatively slow, particularly for women and the youth. This is concerning as the highest rates of unemployment in South Africa are among the youth. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to examine the potential opportunities, challenges, and barriers to transformation within the tourist guiding subsector, with an emphasis on previously disadvantaged groups. The study adopted a mixed-method research design, to ensure a holistic and in-depth investigation into the research topic. Given the large population of guides in the country, registered in alignment with the Act (3 of 2014), a quantitative approach using surveys was adopted to gather information from tourist guides. A mix of purposive and snowball sampling was used in disseminating an online survey link to tourist guides. Furthermore, to increase the response rate, data was also collected directly at key tourism attractions in the various provinces. A total of 434 usable surveys were collected. In addition, a qualitative approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of challenges to transformation, as well as, importantly, opportunities for transformation from an administrative and practical perspective. This was carried out in the form of in-depth interviews conducted with the provincial registrars of tourist guiding, as well as representatives of various tourist guiding associations, resulting in a total of 12 interviews. Findings from the surveys indicated that the tourist guiding subsector in South Africa is dominated by Black men between the ages of 35 and 44, highlighting issues of participation among women and the youth as has been previously noted. Most tourist guides operate within the culture-guiding category rather than adventure and nature, while Gauteng was the most represented province in terms of area of operation. These results are supplemented by those from the qualitative aspect of the study, where key findings emphasised the key role that the national and provincial registrars play in the cohesiveness of the subsector; in the achievement of the professionalisation of tourist guiding, given their ability to advance key aspects of transformation, as well as ensure that practical measures can be realised. Furthermore, the findings also point towards significant challenges that are faced by all stakeholders within the subsector, including tourist guides, registrars and associations – all of which act as inhibitors to the achievement of transformation in the subsector. Some of these challenges relate to the qualification of tourist guides, particularly in terms of costs and upkeep, registration and professionalisation of the subsector; administrative burdens; fragmented communication between stakeholders inhibiting transformation of the subsector. Also noted were issues surrounding awareness of the sector and how to become a tourist guide, particularly among the youths. Whilst key stakeholders have faith in the ability of the sector to be transformed and become a platform for career development among previously disadvantaged groups, there are many hurdles that need to be overcome before this can be realised. Additionally, the findings indicate a passion and willingness among all stakeholders to work cohesively to both grow and transform the subsector, thus providing a positive outlook for the future of the tourist guiding. This study adopted a mixed-method research design, to ensure a holistic and in-depth investigation into the research topic. Given the large population of guides in the country, registered in alignment with the Act (3 of 2014), a quantitative approach using surveys was adopted to gather information from tourist guides. A mixture of purposive and snowball sampling was used in disseminating an online survey link to tourist guides. Furthermore, to increase the response rate, data was also collected directly at key tourism attractions in the various provinces. A total of 434 usable surveys were collected. In addition, a qualitative approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of challenges to transformation, as well as, importantly, opportunities for transformation from an administrative and practical perspective. This was carried out in the form of in-depth interviews conducted with the provincial registrars of tourist guiding, as well as representatives of various tourist guiding associations, resulting in a total of 12 interviews. Preliminary findings from the surveys indicated that the tourist guiding subsector in South Africa is dominated by Black men between the ages of 35 and 44, highlighting issues of participation among women and the youth as has been previously noted. Most tourist guides operate within the culture-guiding category rather than adventure and nature while Gauteng was the most represented province in terms of area of operation. These results are supplemented by those from the qualitative aspect of the study, where key findings emphasised the key role that the national and provincial registrars play in the cohesiveness of the subsector; in the achievement of the professionalisation of tourist guiding, , given their ability to advance key aspects of transformation, as well as ensure that practical measures can be realised. Show less

Tourist guiding is an important subsector of the tourism sector. In South Africa, tourism forms an important contributor to the economy and accounts for a large portion of employment. Tourist guiding has been seen as a mechanism for upliftment due to the relative ease of entering the sector. Despite this, transformation within Show more

COVID-19 brought travel as we know it to a complete standstill. At the time it was believed that the impact of the pandemic was unprecedented and that the projected recovery would need to be both different and transformative. This was particularly evident from a product (supply) point of view given the renewed attempts to increase tourists (demand) to destinations. As a result of this hiatus, the travel industry needed to reconsider the shape and form of the tourism product in order to revive and ensure its sustainability. The objective of this investigation is to demonstrate how the product (supply) could be remodelled in a destabilised environment as a contingency plan so as to maintain and sustain tourist arrivals (demand) in the wake of any internal crises and other external emergencies. As a result, this article presents research on a newly devised novel approach to remodel the actual supply-side of the domestic tourism value chain so as to become more resilient and resistant. In principle this remodelling hones in on stimulating the development of a tourism product that takes into account other dimensions that were not formerly or conventionally regarded as part of the hyper-local touristic experience. Show less

COVID-19 brought travel as we know it to a complete standstill. At the time it was believed that the impact of the pandemic was unprecedented and that the projected recovery would need to be both different and transformative. This was particularly evident from a product (supply) point of view given the renewed attempts to Show more

According to the World Bank (1975), rural development is defined as a strategy aiming at the improvement of economic and social living conditions, focusing on a specific group of poor people in rural areas. It assists the poorest group among the people living in rural areas to benefit from development. Tourism is regarded as one of the development tools in rural communities. Rural tourism has a high potential to stimulate economic growth and social change because of its complementary significance with other economic activities. Rural development is an underlying issue in South Africa as young people are emigrating to other countries or even to more developed areas like the city or urban areas either looking for employment opportunities or improve their standard of living, which leaves the rural areas underdeveloped and the decrease for potential spaces of development and eventually these areas are left neglected. Development in rural areas becomes difficult because there are challenges and hindrances when unutilised spaces, especially in rural areas such as Ha-Makuya where it is mostly nature or cultural tourism. The aim of this research project was to determine the need and the extent to which tourism contribution to rural development The project I employed a qualitative research approach and key informants were consulted to provide primary and first-hand information. The local tourism guide could assist in identifying existing and potential tourism products. The project was guided on secondary data information as well. The instrument used to collect data was electronic devices. The findings of the project proved that development in the Ha-Makuya is essential for the improvement of social standards and basic living conditions Show less

According to the World Bank (1975), rural development is defined as a strategy aiming at the improvement of economic and social living conditions, focusing on a specific group of poor people in rural areas. It assists the poorest group among the people living in rural areas to benefit from development. Tourism is regarded as Show more

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the susceptibility of the global tourism industry to the negative impact of health-related crises on international mobility and tourism demand. Moreover, in the ‘proverbial’ post-COVID-19 era, South Africa’s tourism industry is prone to the effects of various internal and external shocks. These include the conflict in Ukraine - and the subsequent energy and financial crises in South Africa’s major European tourist source markets, the global financial constraints associated with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and more pertinently localised crises such as floods in various provinces, the ongoing energy crisis, and increasing safety and security concerns. As part of the Department of Tourism’s research panel, NWU’s tourism research unit, TREES, and the University of Venda conducted a research study to develop a reflexive demand-oriented tourism resilience model. The model does two things, and thus it can be seen as a two-phased model. First, it uses tourism expenditure data before and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic to assess if the tourism economy is bouncing back in ways demonstrating resilience. Second, it monitors domestic tourists' responsive travel behaviour and choices during and post-crises. The second phase investigates tourists’ travel behaviour for the international and domestic markets, leading to the International - Tourism Resilience Model (I-TRM) and the Domestic - Tourism Resilience Model (D-TRM). Probably the first of their kind, the models monitor and evaluate tourism indicators and their impact on travel behaviour, highlighting tourists’ travel preferences, risk-responsive behaviour, response to the crisis and post-crisis marketing communications, as well as profile aspects such as spending patterns – critical information to rebuilding and future-proofing the industry to become more resilient. This research and the models will enable the South African tourism industry to better understand domestic and international tourists amid crises and aid in tourism product development, as well as services and marketing innovation that sustainably boost inbound and local travel. Show less

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the susceptibility of the global tourism industry to the negative impact of health-related crises on international mobility and tourism demand. Moreover, in the ‘proverbial’ post-COVID-19 era, South Africa’s tourism industry is prone to the effects of various internal and external shocks. Show more

Global pandemics have played an enormous role in shaping the tourism landscape. This dissertation focuses on the impact of pandemics on tourism by bringing together the responses to crisis from stakeholders in the 20th and 21st centuries. It examines historical pandemics from the Spanish influenza (1918) to COVID-19 (2019) to compare and identify the trends in policies and their effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on the importance of tourism in global economies and the recovery strategies post-disaster. Tourism-dependent countries are concerned about these disturbances as it leads to a fall in international travel that exacerbates economic problems, especially in developing nations. The research adopts an analytical approach which illuminates both historical policy triumphs and failures to inform future strategies. It draws together aspects from policymakers and stakeholders in order to build a more resilient and adaptable economy that emphasises a need for post-COVID-19 positioning. Various government interventions are considered and conclusions are drawn from both successful and failing methods that could highlight key indicators to assist governments with economic recovery. Finally, the research critiques government responses and suggests ways to improve them to highlight how policymakers should prepare for future crises and indicates how tourism can become more resilient and adaptable post-pandemic. Show less

Global pandemics have played an enormous role in shaping the tourism landscape. This dissertation focuses on the impact of pandemics on tourism by bringing together the responses to crisis from stakeholders in the 20th and 21st centuries. It examines historical pandemics from the Spanish influenza (1918) to COVID-19 (2019) Show more

Despite it being widely recognised that the Bushmen of southern Africa have the oldest DNA in the world, and that they are the first peoples of the region, their voices are often the last to be heard in matters pertaining to their continued existence. They have faced centuries of ethnocide, dispossession and marginalisation, a situation perpetuated under the new democratic governments of southern Africa. Besides oversimplified and outright inaccurate portrayals of the Bushmen as ‘primitive man’ throughout the period of colonisation, they have more recently been romanticised in idyllic portrayals in tourism marketing. While this has resulted in many deciding to distance themselves from their culture, others who at first eagerly embraced tourism, have been put on show like “animals in a zoo” for tourists to view the ‘exotic and primitive indigenous people of Africa’. This has contributed to a trivialisation and commodification of their culture, with only few success stories. This study traces the history of the Bushmen both in terms of their invidious position in southern Africa and in tourism. It examines two juxtaposing examples of Bushmen tourism ventures and argues that by embracing both the traditional and modern, such ventures can succeed. Show less

Despite it being widely recognised that the Bushmen of southern Africa have the oldest DNA in the world, and that they are the first peoples of the region, their voices are often the last to be heard in matters pertaining to their continued existence. They have faced centuries of ethnocide, dispossession and marginalisation, a Show more

According to the Global tourism organisation (2022) tourism is one of the world's fastest-growing sectors, with adventure tourism being one of the fastest-growing sub-industries. Adventure tourism is a developing niche market, with the potential to become extremely popular and profitable. The term "adventure" refers to a unique experience that involves personal excitement. (Hanna, Wijesinghe, Paliatsos, Walker, Adams, and Kimbu 2019).South Africa is widely viewed as one of the greatest African adventure destinations. However, sustainability is a pressing issue in any tourism context, here and elsewhere. As a result, adventure tourism destinations require guidance on how to succeed and be sustainable. (Erene 2018). The primary objective of this study is to assess the adventure tourism activities at Phiphidi Waterfalls. This study is descriptive in nature, and data was collected using a quantitative method in the form of a questionnaire. The study was conducted at Faranani and Mudomba villages situated next to the Waterfall. The sample included Phiphidi waterfalls service providers, tourist who visit Phiphidi waterfalls for adventure activities and community members. The study revealed that the most tourist visit Phiphidi waterfall for Swimming, Fishing, Birds-watching and Rock-climbing. Most tourist who travel to Phiphidi waterfall were found to be people who love adventure. The study also revealed that adventure tourism is benefiting local community members from job opportunity and meeting new people. Faranani and Mudomba residents were found mainly to be common people benefiting from providing product to tourist visiting waterfall. Show less

According to the Global tourism organisation (2022) tourism is one of the world's fastest-growing sectors, with adventure tourism being one of the fastest-growing sub-industries. Adventure tourism is a developing niche market, with the potential to become extremely popular and profitable. The term "adventure" refers to a unique Show more

The Department of Tourism is prioritising domestic tourism’s recovery. This is linked to the consensus that promoting domestic tourism is crucial to ensure that the sector recovers from the pandemic impacts on a pathway to sustainability and resilience to deal with future disruptions. This report extends the previous study to pilot and refine the Domestic Tourism Recovery Framework proposed, incorporating the Domestic Tourism Scheme as a key component. This report provides the context of the study, stipulating the aim, objectives and research questions. In relation to the rationale and purpose of the research, the piloting and refinement of the proposed Domestic Tourism Recovery Framework are critical to guide interventions and buy-in. Furthermore, the Framework is extended to include awareness and communication, training and skills development, and monitoring and evaluation components to support effective implementation and achieve intended impacts. The research methodology adopted during this Phase was a desktop approach (updating the literature) and qualitative component (key informant interviews and focus group discussions) to facilitate engagements with purposively selected (after undertaking stakeholder mapping) and key stakeholders on the Domestic Tourism Recovery Framework and Domestic Tourism Scheme. In total, 24 key informants and 4 focus groups completed. The proposed Domestic Tourism Recovery Framework is informed by the sustainable tourism development approach, linked to the ecosystem-based operational model that includes the drivers, pressures, state, impact and response (DPSIR) framework, which informs an examination of tourism that is based on a complex set of phenomena with multi-dimensional aspects and impacts. This approach was complemented by the Theory of Change approach during this Phase that promotes outcomes and results-based approaches to planning and development, focuses on evidence-based/ data-driven evaluation that demonstrates benefits and viability, enhances capacity development, enables partnerships and collaboration and is learning-orientated to improve future policies, plans and interventions. Several themes emerged from the literature review undertaken, including the importance of domestic tourism in South Africa and globally; trends and changes in domestic tourism travel behaviours; challenges faced in relation to finance, infrastructure, safety and security; the impacts of digital and technological advancements, and awareness levels. There was also consensus that domestic tourism was on a pathway to recovery, which needs to be supported/ incentivised. The importance of education and training as well as effective awareness and communication strategies were also highlighted. Show less

The Department of Tourism is prioritising domestic tourism’s recovery. This is linked to the consensus that promoting domestic tourism is crucial to ensure that the sector recovers from the pandemic impacts on a pathway to sustainability and resilience to deal with future disruptions. This report extends the previous study to Show more